Improvement in explosive shells



J. T. SENN.

Expiosive Shells.

N0. 137,491. PatentedApril 1fl8 73 AM PM T0L/THOGRAPHICCO. Nmfassomvs'sPROCESS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. SENN, or TROY, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO sIMoNSOHWARZ, 0F SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,49 1, dated April1, 1873; application filed January 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OIIN T. SENN, of Troy, in the county of Pike andState of Alabama, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Bombs;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and operation of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification,and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a central section of myinvention.

This invention has relation to the construction of shells especiallyadapted for use in.

howitzers and other smooth-bore guns of short range; and it consists inthe concentric arrangement of two hollow spheres, one within the other,and sufficiently smaller to leave a space between its outer surface andthe inner wall of the exterior case to admit of the arrangement of shotor musket balls between the two, the inner shell being charged with thepowder or other explosive material.

In the accompanying drawing, the letter A designates the exterior case,which may be cast in sections, to be bolted together or otherwisesecured after the introduction of the inner case and the balls. Brepresents the interior sphere, which may be cast entire, in the usualmanner, or in sections. It is, however, preferably cast entire, as it isdesirable, when the projectile explodes, that this portion of it shouldpart in as many pieces as possible in order to scatter the shot, whichlie next its exterior, in every direction. The inner sphere isconcentrically fixed in position, with relation to the outer shell, bymeans of a bolt, 0.

If the space between the spheres is large, shot of large size may beused to fill it, and, in this case, they must be placed in positionbefore the sections of the exterior case are bolted together.Ordinarily, however, it is balls or shot 0 of sufficiently small size topass through the fuse-hole. In this case the sections may be securedtogether, and thus the case maybe manufactured entirely without chargingany portion of it until it is about to be used; then the explosivematerial is to be introduced into the inner sphere, and the shot arepassed through the fuse-hole into the space between the two cases, afterwhich the fuseplug dis inserted, and the shell is ready for use.

The hole in the inner shell is of less diameter than that of the outershell. The fuseplug is shouldered to rest against the outer wall of theinner shell, thus steadying this shell in position and preventing itfrom rotating about the bolt.

This shell is designed to be very effective in use. When exploded theinterior case receives the first impulse of the expansion, and will flyinto many pieces, driving before them the shot and pieces of theexterior case in every direction.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,isp The shell, constructed as herein described, having the two separateand independent hollow spheres A B, one within the other, connectedtogether by means of the bolt 0, and provided with the shoulderedfuse-plug d, extending from the outer into the inner shell, as shown anddescribed.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

J OHN T. SENN.

Witnesses:

JOHN BARRON, WILLIS 0. W001).

